Teacup pigs make everyone smile

Menu

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Will a piggy get along with my

doggy?

The second biggest question we get at Nene’s Little Piglets is “how well do your micro miniature pigs get along with dogs”? So far our little piglets have gotten along with all different types of animals. But (you knew there was going to be a but in there somewhere) always understand that might not be the case every time. I am always being told, “My Rover has been in the family for over ten years and wouldn’t hurt a fly, heck my nephew Joey is only two and pulls his ears and tail all the time.” That person is right to some extent. Understand Rover is a “pack” animal, meaning dogs are programmed to be in a pack. This applies to all breed of dogs from a Chihuahua to a Pit Bull.

Most owners of a dog will be the Alpha or the pack leader. This means you control the pack and the pecking order of the pack; you are also entrusted with maintaining order in your pack. Now you turn your head away from the monitor screen and yell “Honey these people that are selling these little pigs are crazy, they are talking about dogs or something.” Let’s explore the Pack theory relating to pigs and dogs a little further. Say you have a family of five, a father, mother, 10-year-old son, 6-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. Rover is a lot smarter than you think. He sees when Daddy comes home from work everyone goes to greet him. Mommy gives him a kiss; the kids are grabbing his legs as he picks them up and gives them each a kiss. Rover even comes over wagging his tail waiting for acknowledgment. Through the years Rover sees that Dad is the leader of the pack or the Alpha male. He also notices that Mommy (alpha female) is constantly giving direction to the kids. Rover even knows that the kids are ahead of him in this “pack. Heck, he is so comfortable with his position in this pack that he even allows the two-year-old to jump all over him and pull his tail.

That is where the pack ends, he is last in line and doesn’t mind because he is fed well and taken cared of. For most dog’s life is good and if you bring in other animals they might be interested in a few days then pay no attention. Understand dogs are “predator” animals, this means they instinctively seek animals or things in motion. They enjoy seeking out and hunting, this is usually fulfilled with all their toys that they bite, chew and throw around. Their eyes, like humans, are positioned in front for better vision during hunting. Pigs are unfortunately animals of prey; their head is always positioned down to the ground constantly rooting for any piece of food they can find. Their eyes are positioned more side to side for better grazing capabilities. Now when you introduce your little, adorable piggy (a prey animal) to your sweet Rover (predator animal) always be careful that instinct doesn’t kick in. We recommend blocking your little piggy in a bathroom with a baby gate for 2-3 days. This way he or she will get used to all the smells and sounds of its new home. This time also helps to re-orient the piggyback to a potty box after a stressful flight. We pick the bathroom because most of the time it is a tiled room, just in case there is a little accident. During this time sit on the floor and let the piggy come to you. The first 2-3 days please avoid having 20 people over for dinner to show them your awesome little pig. Please also avoid handing your pig around to that same 20 people. We want the introduction to be slow and calm, not stressful and crazy. After 2-3 days in a controlled atmosphere then bring piggy out in its little carrying case for Rover to get use to his/her smell, sounds and movements. After several days and you are sure they both seem to get along you can then let them meet each other with you being around just in case. I personally would not leave a dog and pig together by themselves. The dog in your absence will take on the Alpha position and possibly begin to try and “boss” the pig around. So please always be careful when introducing a dog with your new micro-miniature pig. A few days of introduction is nothing compared to a lifetime of fun, love, and happiness that little rascal will bring you.

A very good question to ask, by far the numero uno question I get the most. If only I got a nickel each time I was asked I would be retired in the Bahamas by now. So how big do our miniature piglets get? Drum roll please…the truth is that it varies. I know you are asking “why does it vary”? Simple…way too many variables in the teacup pig’s life. Such as environmental temperature, other foods available, genetics, activity level, social hierarchy, nursing status and is the new family adhering to the little darling’s proper diet? Can you tell me how much your 3-month-old son will weigh once he is an adult? After your 3-month-old son is all grown up and attains his adult weight how much will he weigh if he doesn’t maintain a healthy diet? How tall will he be? Have you ever met a family that’s only moderate in height but they have one son that is over 6 foot tall? Genetics does play a big role in the size of a miniature pig. Let’s explore these variables a little more in depth.

Genetics

I know you are thinking a pig is a pig but a pig can be a longer pig genetically, which like a taller person can weigh more than a shorter person. Does your miniature pig have extremely short legs? With shorter legs your piglets will be a naturally shorter pig.Well at neneslittlepiglets.com we do strive to breed our healthiest, smallest pigs with our healthiest, smallest pigs with the features people fall in love with. Adorable pug little nose, short legs, and awesome temperament. Even then genetics from generations of the past kick in something totally different. Understand not in a bad way just different colors and characteristics that neither the mother nor father has. But we can approximate the weight of the piglet at maturity according to its mother and father’s stature and weight and the size of past offspring they have produced. The best way I can describe the size of a miniature pig at adulthood would imagine a medium sized dog but on the smaller side.

Activity Level

Is your teacup pig a couch potato? Or will it run with your other pets? Not to say that your micro mini pig won’t stay slim and trim while living indoors most of our mini pigs do live indoors with their new families. Some miniature pigs are renegades and love to run outdoors (in a fenced area). Honestly, some pigs are naturally more active than others just like there are so many different shapes and sizes in human beings the same goes for miniature pigs. The biggest most important factor in determining your piggy’s weight (just like humans) is his or her diet. With all due respect, I want you to ask yourself a question. “Do you have overweight dogs or cats?” Well, the reason I am asking is because if you do you might be confusing excessive food and high calorie treats with love which is the kiss of death for piggies. Why? Because miniature pigs have very slow metabolisms if you start to give your darling a little piece of this and a little piece of that, they will expect it every time. You, in essence, have created a monster that will constantly be at your feet when you are eating looking to get something from you. Your pig will also be overweight, over height and extremely unhealthy. This is a catch 22 situation because once the little darling puts on the weight they tend not to want to be as active because it gets harder and harder to move around with that extra weight and little short legs which in turn help them gain even more weight! I guess pigs are a lot like us humans. When pigs put on the weight they put on a lot of fat along there back as well which can add as much as 2-4 inches to their height.So yes, diet is extremely important.

Environmental temperature- If the temperature gets cold, it will take the mini pig more energy to keep its body temperature at its normal range. If piggy shivers, those are muscles contracting to create heat. Muscles that are contracting equal more energy expenditure which means piggy will need more feed to compensate. Now if we went the other way where it piggy is hot, then piggy will eat less and lay around more. In this case, you will need to mist the piggy either manually or automatically and the water evaporating will cool them off.

Other foods available– I know this is an easy one. Is piggy fed other foods or allowed to graze? If so then they will eat less feed. Or should be fed less, not necessarily will they eat less because they are pigs.

Social Hierarchy- Yes believe it or not miniature pigs have a pecking order. I told you that pigs get along well with other animals and that is the truth except for one other animal and that would be a strange pig. Miniature pigs get along well with other mini pigs when they grow up together but, if they don’t know each other then they have to sort things out. This normally takes 1-2 days in which you better be present until things are sorted out between them.Unfortunately one has to bow down to the other then everything is fine with the world. But the one that is more dominant will get more of the feed.

Nursing Status– A nursing mother will produce a lot of milk. This, in turn, takes a whole lot of energy. A lactating mother can consume up to 4-6 times more food than normal. If a mother has an especially large litter, even at the increased amount of feed given, there will be a point where she will be eating nonstop and still not be able to produce enough milk for all her babies. This usually can occur with the larger pigs used for consumption but has happened rarely with our miniature piglets which in turn we will bottle feed.

Feeding amount– Are you sure you are giving your miniature pig the correct amount of feed every day? Are you sure? Are you following what the bag of Mazuri says to feed piggy? Are you sure? If not weigh it out one time so you can see how much it actually is with your eyes. I hope you are not giving the little monster any excessive treats or fruits. The feed is actually all piggy will ever need. ( per a nutritionist at Mazuri)

What do I feed my miniature pig?

So to help with your sweet little teacup piglet’s weight and health you need to feed them food specifically made for them. We highly recommend Mazuri Mini Pig Active Adult made by Purina (Nutri Source has been discontinued by Tractor Supply). This food is low to moderate in energy( meaning lower in calories) and high in fiber to help keep them full. It is important that you pick a morning feeding time and an evening feeding time and stick with it, don’t worry they will remind you. Such as 7:00am and 5:00pm with vegetables given to them during the afternoon. Vegetables such as celery, cucumbers, green peppers, and lettuce. I call these free vegetables which will help keep them full but don’t have a lot of calories and try to limit the amount of fruit given to the little darling because they have too many calories and sugar that your piggy doesn’t need. So as a rule of thumb feed your piggy approximately 1-3% of its body weight in Mazuri Mini Pig Active Adult daily. I didn’t make that up it is the feeding directions printed on the bag. For a really in depth explanation on diet please click the button below which will take you to another page of my website.

Click here for an in depth explanation of a miniature pig’s diet

How much do I feed my miniature pig??

So for example, if your miniature pig currently weighs 25 pounds that would be converted to 400 ounces of total body weight. The proper amount to feed your mini pig is 1-3% of its body weight in feed daily; this is according to the feeding directions on the bag. So 1% will equal 4 ounces, 2% will equal 8 ounces and 3 % will equal 12 ounces. So the proper amount to feed your darling would be 4 -12 ounces of Mazuri Mini Pig Active Adult daily split up into two different feedings. That would be 2 – 6 ounces once in the morning and 2 – 6 ounces once in the evening with vegetables in the afternoon. Please understand this is only a general guideline it also depends on the pig’s age, genetic makeup, activity level and temperament. If your piggy looks like it is getting thin increase its feed, likewise if your piggy is gaining weight on this schedule, cut them back a little. Follow these recommendations to help your piggy live a long and healthy life. A couple of days after adding this page, I received an e-mail from Jamie. My answer explains a little more on how food plays a role in the final stature of a piggy.

An e-mail from Jamie

hello, i was reading your site and you seem to be a reputable breeder/pig owner. its so hard to believe some of the things off the internet, therefore i am asking your help in answering a question or two honestly so we don’t end up w/an unwanted piggie. your article said the juliana breed adult weight is approx 15-30lbs. so a 15lb adult(at it’s full growth/weight)pig is possible and it is healthy. owners on the internet have said there is no such thing as an adult being that small & if there is one, its starved or malnourished. it also said breeders may breed two adult pigs that are only 2-3yrs old weighing less(due to not reaching max weight)therefore they say the adult pigs are “smaller” so therefore the piglet will be small, but in turn it’s just because they haven’t reached the full adult weight yet.
i know this is a lot of info i’m asking help on, but i was really interested in a micro piglet, however if it’s gonna get as big as some of the “horror stories” i’ve heard on the internet, then i’d rather not get one and regret it later. if you would email me back i would greatly appreciate it. if you choose not too, i understand also. i just want an honest answer from a breeder who wants what’s best for the piggies so it doesn’t end up “unwanted.” thank you and god bless.
thanks jamie

My answer to Jamie

My Answer back was;

Good morning Jamie, hope to find you doing well. Those are a bunch of great questions you are asking. Is 25-35 pounds attainable? Yes it is, not the norm but is possible. We have several different pigs that are that size. We have a piggy by the name of Major who is 3 years old and weighs 20 pounds. Remember he is not fully grown yet and understand a mini pig that weighs less then the norm at maturity will be the runt of the bunch, nothing wrong with it health-wise just the smallest one of the litter. A good range for a normal micro miniature pig would be 25-35 plus pounds, the plus is due to the different variables I discussed earlier.You said that

“breeders may breed two adult pigs that are only 2-3yrs old weighing less(due to not reaching max weight)therefore they say the adult pigs are “smaller” so therefore the piglet will be small, but in turn it’s just because they haven’t reached the full adult weight yet.”

Micro mini pigs are considered fully grown at 3-4 years of age. Just like humans if we keep eating non stop our weight will keep increasing and our adult weight will not have been attained. No one should ever under feed an animal just to keep it small, but one must understand it is a pig. If you’ve ever heard the expression “boy he eats like a pig” then you must wonder how it came about. Pigs are constantly looking for food, and have a never ending appetite. Understand there is a difference between underfeeding a pig and feeding a pig the proper amount of food. Go back on my website when you have the chance and take a look at Arnold who is on my rescued page. Arnold is a micro miniature pig that lived in New York in an apartment and was fed unlimited amounts of dog food. Arnold should by all rights weigh in at a normal weight, instead he weighs approximately 120 pounds, he is 24 inches tall and 40 inches long and is a girth. Major is 12 inches in height and 24 inches long weighing in at 20 pounds. Both are micro miniature pigs, both worlds apart in size and weight. So Arnold eating dog food exclusively which is way higher in protein, higher in fat, higher in calories and lower in fiber than a pig needs in turn helped him grow larger, bigger and fatter. Same thing with humans eating the wrong diet, we will get bigger and fatter. Also know that Major was the runt of the litter fed a proper diet all his life. Mazuri Mini Pig Active Adult made by Purina is awesome and specifically made for mini pigs, its directions on feeding a mini pig is 1-3% of the pigs body weight per day. It is a moderate energy meaning not too crazy on calories and high in fiber. So 1-3% breaks down as follows:

So if a mini pig weighs 25-30 pounds that equals 400-480 ounces of body weight

1 percent is 4-4.8 ounces, 2 percent is 8-9.6 ounces and 3 percent is 12-14.4 ounces of feed per day. We stick with the average which is 2% at 8-9.6 ounces of food per day. Which comes out to be 4 – 4.8 ounces in the morning and again in the evening. Also advisable to supplement their diet with lots of free vegetables(no tomatoes) Yes the proper food and nutrition is very important to how big a pig even a mini pig will grow but no one should ever under feed an animal to keep it small. I hope this answers all your questions. If not please ask more. Thanks again Jeanie.

An e-mail from Morgan

Hello my name is Morgan. I am doing a research paper in school and I was wondering if you could answer a few questions about your pigs.

I read something saying that a lot of ‘miniature’ or ‘teacup’ pigs are underfed to keep them small and stunt their growth but their organs continue to grow their whole life. This causes to make them live only 5 years. Have you heard anything about growth stunting or organs continuing to grow?

What is the typical lifespan of your pigs?

I saw your conversation with Jamie on your website and that does answer some of my questions. But I still don’t understand how a pig who is supposed to weigh 30lbs can end up much taller and heavier even if its overfed. How do we know for sure how much these pigs are supposed to eat? Everyone keeps saying they will eat whatever and whenever they can, but won’t most dogs do that too? Overweight dogs don’t become taller from being overweight. You said your smallest pig is 9in tall, but your adopted pig who was fed dog food is 24in tall. I realize pigs and dogs anatomy are not the same but I am just eying to understand everything.

Most of the internets info either says mini pigs don’t actually exist and these pigs are being starved to stay small and that if you buy one you are a horrible person. Or they are from breeders say ohh my precious pigs are so small and perfect and cost $1500 and so on. I am finding no facts that can be backed up on either side.

If any of this email sounds accusatory or offensive I apologize. It’s not meant to be. I am just trying to find the truth. I have always been extremely interested in mini or teacup pigs. I have wanted one ever since I was little. But recently I have just found all this horrific info saying they are starved to be kept small and only live a few years and so on. I would never want to do that to an animal so if I am ever able to get one I want to know that it is capable of being happy and healthy.

Thank you in advance! There is no rush for an answer because I’m still only in the research portion of writing my paper and I am sure you are kept very busy with your adorable little piggies.

Here was my answer:

My answer to Morgan

Hi Morgan and I hope to find you doing well. If you don’t mind me asking how old are you? What grade are you in? This sounds like an awesome topic for a research paper, I will try and answer all your questions to the best of my abilities. First of all there are many actual breeds of miniature pigs. At our little farm, we breed micro-miniature, Pinto’s and Juliana’s; these are 3 actual breeds of mini pigs originating from England for research purposes. We have many pigs that are in the 25-35 pound range that are fully grown and not starved. I have never heard of them staying small and that their organs continue to grow, that is a new one for me. It is true if you underfeed an animal you will stunt its growth and cause it to stay smaller or due to the lack of essential nutrients the animal will fail to reach his/her genetic potential; that is a very cruel way to try and keep a miniature pig small. This animal will be plagued with poor health and a shorter lifespan. On the other hand if you were to offer an animal after weaning and throughout puberty a diet unlimited in protein, fat and carbohydrates, all those excessive nutrients would place its body in an optimum position for maximum growth. Meaning possibly a thicker skeletal mass, more muscle tissue and of course more adipose tissue. These nutrients will cause them to grow to their maximum potential that their genetics allows them. Just imagine if you had an appetite that was never satisfied along with an extremely slow metabolism and you were allowed unlimited amount of food? You would always be hungry and constantly eating and with a slow metabolism you would gain weight nonstop, you will be a fatter piggy and also a bigger piggy. Pigs when fed excessively store a great deal of fat, besides their stomachs, they store a lot on their necks and along their backs. Excessive fat along their back can be 2-4 inches thick adding to their height. On the average mini pigs live to be 10-15 years of age. A human fed a proper diet will be at a normal weight( like my small piggy) when fully grown, have you seen a 600-pound human before?(like my rescue piggy) It is not that a human will grow taller it’s more like the excessive nutrients will create an optimum atmosphere for maximum growth. Dog metabolisms are on fire compared to a pig, you can give a dog human food and it won’t really affect its weight due to the higher metabolism; when I say grows larger, I mean a dog or pig fed excessive amounts of food will undoubtedly grow bigger and larger then a dog or pig that has been malnourished all its life.

Purina, the leader when it comes to animal feed

Go to Mazuri.com

which is owned by Purina; Purina is the largest maker of animal feed in the world. From mini pigs, elephants, bears, big cats, zebras and a lot of different exotic animals. They spend millions of dollars on research on all their products to make sure their feed provides 100% of all the nutrients, protein, fat and calories that particular animal needs. So understand feed IS Purina’s business, they are the leaders when it comes to feed.(Top Dog). All of our animals and that includes goats, a cow, dogs, cats, a rabbit and of course our Little Piggies are fed Purina products. So with that said read the directions on Mazuri Mini Pig Active Adult Diet which states depending on their activity level, temperament etc. they should be fed 1-2 percents of their body weight in feed per day each day. So a full-grown miniature pig at 25 pounds weighs 400 ounces. 1-2% of feed for a 25-pound pig would come out to be 4-8 ounces by weight of feed a day. These animals due to their slow metabolisms do not require many calories a day. Pigs are pigs, CONSTANTLY looking for food. They are always looking for food and seem always hungry but require very little food to stay healthy. May be that’s why it seems like breeders are starving their pigs. There is a difference between starving a pig and feeding a pig the correct amount. 4-8 ounces does seem like someone is starving a pig, but in actuality it is the correct amount. We give our pigs a little more than recommended without weight gain and a lot of salad vegetables to help keep them happy and full. If a mommy is lactating we will depend on the mothers metabolism and litter size give them up to 4 times the amount recommended and mix this feed with Mazuri’s youth formula for extra nutrients, protein and calories. I hope I didn’t ramble on too much, I am not a scientist so understand all the information above is what we do here. If you ever have the chance and you are visiting the Central Florida area please stop by and visit. This way you can see first hand how healthy our little piggies are. Please if you have any other questions e-mail me back. I hope this helps you get an A on your paper. Thanks again and GOD BLESS Jeanie.

Piggy Information

Which micro miniature piglet should I get, male or female?

That’s a good question. Both are adorable but there are some differences. First and foremost precious needs to be spayed/neutered unless you are breeding them; PERIOD end of story. Once a female goes into “heat” all she cares about is mating. Literally becomes psychotic looking for a mate. Males, well they are males. Once they sense a female in estrus they will become more aggressive and will do anything he can to be with a female in estrus. You didn’t think a mini pig could climb hmm…So you say your miniature pig is potty box trained? Once in heat all potty box usage goes out the window. That adorable little creature will use the bathroom anywhere they care to. If you want to keep that adorable little miniature pig sweet, lovable and continue having that wonderful bond between you and that precious little animal make sure you have it spayed or neutered. Trust me. Once “fixed” males are sweet and laid back, females are sweet but are just a hair more active and nosy.

Little Piggy Care

Now that you have this little darling creature in front of you, you might ask “How do I care for my little teacup pig“?

The very first thing you MUST, yes sorry I said MUST, do even before bringing a miniature pig home is find a local veterinarian that does take care of pigs. Most of you that live in the country will have no problem with this, those of you that live closer to the city will because most vets in the city specialize in dogs and cats. Please find a vet that does take care of miniature pigs. This is the most important thing you need to do before purchasing a little rascal.

Introduction

Once that darling little creature arrives to your loving home full of food, treats(such as cut up vegetables), toys and its own little pillow. The first thing you want to do is pick it up and hold it and share it with everyone around you right. WRONG!!! Just think if you were yanked from all of your brothers, sisters and the humans that loved you and fed you. Then placed in a pet carrier and flown for several hours to your new home? How would you feel being in a completely different surrounding with strange people and animals? We strongly encourage a 2-3 day introduction period. We also encourage the use of a playpen. One side of the playpen will house the food, water and a potty box until he or she feels comfortable, then slowly introduce him or her to its new family and friends. You don’t want to stress that sweet little animal and you will if you “pass it around” to every person that wants to hold her. Please give that tiny pig some time to adjust to its new surrounding, 3 days is nothing compared to a lifetime of happiness.

Bathing

We bathe our mini pigs approximately once a month using a puppy shampoo and conditioner. It also depends if you keep your little darling either indoors or outdoors. Pigs whether full barn yard size or miniature do not sweat; so they never smell. Never bathe your piggy more than once a month or their skin will become too dry. We use baby wipes between baths to keep them clean and fresh smelling. For their skin we use coconut oil to keep their skin moist.

Hoove Care

Hoove care is a lot easier than most people think. Once you establish that special bond with your little piggy, at that early age, he or she will just about let you do anything you want with them. Start at an early age using an emery board or sand paper to gently rub off excess hoof material. This will keep them nice and trim. If not you will need the services of a professional to trim them for you.

Sunburn

Always apply sun screen on your tea cup pig. We use one that blocks out 90 % of the sun’s harmful rays. Don’t forget in the winter as well, the cool weather will make your piggy stay out longer in the sun causing sunburn and a grumpy little piggy.

What do I use in my little piggy’s potty box?

Never ever use cat litter in your pal’s potty box. They will possibly eat it and you know what happens when clay hits moisture? That’s right it clumps and you don’t want it to clump in your baby’s little tummy do you? Seriously never use cat litter because it will cause serious illness and possibly KILL your new friend. Also don’t use corn cob pellets, your miniature piglet will eat it none stop and will soon resemble a big piggy. We use horse bedding which are pine pellets for the bottom of their potty box. It is piggy safe!

Why does my little piggy squeal when I pick it up?

Unfortunately pigs are in the prey category, and most pigs have their eyes positioned looking downward. When you pick up your little friend it will squeal like you are trying to kill him or her. It is because the prey instinct kicks in thinking it is being attacked from above. Don’t worry, just keep picking up precious and show it love and eventually it will grow to love you and not be so nervous. Always support your little friend and make sure you have their hind legs supported as well to make it feel safe from falling.

Will my piggy be safe with Fido?

Remember pigs fall under the prey category and dogs fall under the predator category. Never ever leave piggy with your dog unless you are absolutely positive that Fido won’t hurt your new little friend. Just because Fido never hurt anyone in the past, you might not know how your dog will react to a little micro piglet running around. Better to be safe than sorry, let the introduction be slow. Put piggy in a cage near the dog so it can get use to its smell and actions for a couple of days before a nose to nose chaperoned introduction. For a more in depth look at the relationship between dogs and miniature pigs please go to my web page titled A pig and your dog. Just click the link below.